Pump



y 1934- s. T. BALL r AL 1,958,689

PUMP

Filed Feb. 18, 1931 Wine. jvenYiarJ Patented May 15, 1934 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE PUMP Application February 18, 1931, Serial No. 516,662

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to pumps and more particularly todiaphragm pumps useful for pumping not only clear liquids, but alsoliquids carrying solid matter in suspension.

5 One object of the present invention is to provide a simple and easilyconstructed and durable pump adapted to maintain without attention atight seal against egress of liquid or vapors.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple andreliable mechanical connection, whereby the usual stufiing box andcomplicated vertical motion mechanism are eliminated.

With these objects in view, the principal feature of the inventioncomprises the combination with a pumping element and a casing therefor,of a flexible sealing member which closes the casing and which isrigidly connected both to the pumping element internally and to thedriving mechanism externally. The flexible sealing member freelyaccommodates itself to all varia-- tions in the drive and thereforepermits a nonaligning driving motion. The pump is thus simplified andmoreover, a permanent tight seal,

not attainable with the usual stuffing box, is assured.

Other features of the invention consist in the devices, combinations andarrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined inthe claim.

The accompanying drawing is an elevation, partly in section, of thepreferred pump.

The present invention is herein illustrated and described as embodied'ina diaphragm pump, in

which the pumping element comprises a flexible diaphragm which is flexedalternately in opposite directions by any suitable drive.

Referring to the drawing, the pump is shown as mounted on a portablecarriage 2. The pump has a casing 4 provided with an inlet port 6 andoutlet port 8. A flap valve of any usual form is mounted in the inlet.The pumping element comprises a flexible diaphragm 9 supported at itsperiphery between two sections 10 and 11 of the casing, which sectionsare secured together through bolting flanges 12. The diaphragm issecured at its center between two plates 14 and 16. The upper plate 14carries a flap valve 18 adapted to open upwardly. The casing is sealedat the top by a flexible sealing member in the form of a diaphragm 20which is secured between the section 11 of the casing and a ring flange22, the latter being secured to the casing through bolting flanges 23.The center of the sealing diaphragm is secured between a lower plate 24and an upper plate 26, the former connecting with the plate 14 of thepumping element by rigid standards 28. The standards 28 are constructedintegral with the plates 14 and 24, forming a cage-like structureconnecting the diaphragm. The plates 16 and 26 are secured to thisstructure by bolts 29. The connecting rod or link 30 of the drive issecured to the upper plate and is pivoted to the lever 32 which in turnis pivoted at its end to the flange 22 of the pump casing. The lever isoscillated in the usual manner by an engine, which is indicatedconventionally at 34, acting through the reduction gearing 36.

In operation, the pumping element on an upstroke sucks liquid into thebottom part of the casing through the inlet. On a down stroke, the flapvalve 18 opens and the liquid is forced out through the discharge portunder pressure. The space immediately below the sealing diaphragm formsan air cushion. The sealing diaphragm accommodates itself readily to anychanges in position of the connecting rod 30. This rod undergoes anarcuate movement which is permitted by the flexibility of the sealingdiaphragm. This avoids the necessity for oscillating fulcrums which areemployed to impart a vertical movement of the connecting rod through thestufling box of the usual pump. The diaphragm provides a much moreeifective and durable seal than can be obtained with a stufiing box, afeature of importance when the pump is employed on sewage or othernoxious materials.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A pump comprising a casing having a bottom section and an upper section,the bottom section having an inlet port and the upper section having anoutlet port, a pumping diaphragm secured between the sections, a flapvalve in the center of the pumping diaphragm, a flexible sealingdiaphragm closing the upper section of the casing, plates clamped toopposite sides of the inner portion of each diaphragm, a plurality ofstandards formed integral with and connecting the plates of the twodiaphragms and forming a rigid cagedike structure between thediaphragms, and driving means connected centrally with the plates of thesealing diaphragm.

SIMEON T. BALL. CHRISTOPHER E. RYMES.

